PRODUCER PROFILE
[ Q & A WITH HILLSONG PRODUCER MICHAEL GUY CHISLETT | Doug Doppler ]
Sydney, Australia based producer Michael Guy Chislett may be the most prolific producer you’ ve never heard of. After a stint in L. A. as |
I was able to isolate the difference between being an audio-obsessed listener and a music listener. |
mega-producer Butch Walker’ s go-to session |
guitarist, Michael headed back to Sydney to become the producer for Hillsong Young and Free, Hillsong United, and Hillsong Worship, |
I am a pretty quirky guitarist, and I sit pretty ahead of the beat. Butch actually sits way more in the pocket than me, but I think he enjoyed |
whose |
single |
“ What |
a |
my vibe. A few times I would |
Beautiful Name” has a whopping 58,000,000 plays on YouTube.
[ GTR ] When you were doing session work for Butch Walker, you also played in his band. What are some of the things you learned during that time?
[ Michael Guy Chislett ] The first recording we did together was the Butch Walker and the Let’ s-Go-
I am guilty of getting something perfect that doesn’ t necessarily make it better to listen to. have an awesome riff that I just couldn’ t nail – I would get three takes in and he would say,“ I’ ll give you two more shots and if you don’ t nail it, sorry, but let’ s move on.” I am guilty of getting something perfect that doesn’ t necessarily make it better to listen to. Butch would be able to hear something that wasn’ t perfectly played but call it perfect and we would move on to something else. Within two hours, I would be Out-Tonites album. The engineer was having hearing it as a listener and decide that I loved issues with the kick drum, so Butch gave that take and think,“ It’ s not perfect, but man, them an hour to fix it. When it still didn’ t get it has a vibe!” better he said,“ OK, I’ ll give you another twenty minutes and then we will have to move on.” [ GTR ] When you’ re tracking guitar in the studio Butch turned to me and said,“ There are no big with Hillsong United, you tend to use different songs out there because of the sound of the guitars versus a wall of amps to create your go kick drum sound, right?” This was the first time to sounds. What is your strategy around this?
[ Michael ] I have a 1962 Vox AC30. I bought it when I was sixteen – saved every cent for a year or two. This was when the Line 6 stuff was going crazy and everyone was getting rid of their vintage amps. This amp is the secret weapon for most of our stuff. I don’ t even change the settings! It sounds strange but I love guitars, I love the sound of a Strat, or a Gretsch White Falcon, but amps... I don’ t love Marshalls and I find it hard to work Fender amps into the right spot. Sometimes I will use a Goodsell Custom 33 head I got about ten years ago, it’ s a great amp and it blends well with the Vox. I have been using a popular guy here in Sydney named Dave Peach who is famous for modding amps. He has been looking after my Vox for years, and I plan to have him mod some modern amps for me.
[ GTR ] In addition to producing Hillsong United, you also play guitar with them on tour. As a producer, what is it like seeing songs you’ ve labored over in the studio come to life on the road?
[ Michael ] It’ s nice seeing the songs unfold in front of the listener! I toured with Butch for two years, and it taught me that without being face to face with the listener, how can you create something culturally relevant to them? Every night we play, I am reminded why some tempos
28 Sep � Oct 2017 GearTechRec. com